Four million dollars, more than Rs 26 crores, was the record-breaking price for a F.N. Souza painting earlier this week at a Christie’s auction in the US. But what if you could lay your hands on a Souza work along with the work of three other famous artists for a mere Rs 10 lakh? That would be a steal. That’s exactly what’s on offer at the Khushii Art Loot.
The NGO Khushii (Kinship for Humanitarian, Social and Holistic Intervention in India) is led by a team of philanthropists and headed by former cricketer Kapil Dev. The national organisation has been working for the past 13 years for the upliftment of the poor and destitute, leading to their socio-economic independence, self-sustainability, and better health.
And in a first-of-its-kind art raffle in Hyderabad, people get to choose over 78 works of art from artists spanning decades. “We have hosted the Art Loot across India, but this is the first time that we’re bringing it to Hyderabad,” says Sapna Kar, patron and co-organiser of the Art Loot. Guests can register by paying Rs 1 lakh, and if their name gets picked, they will get to choose from 78 pieces of artwork and jewellery. “There are four slots, the Rs 3 lakh, Rs 5 lakh, Rs 7 lakh, and the Rs 10 lakh slot. Guests can choose their slot and proceeds go towards educating children,” says Sapna.
While the masters find their place in the Rs 10 lakh slot, guests have a huge variety of artwork to choose from. One can choose from four limited edition hand-woven carpets by artists Jehangir Sabavala, S.H. Raza, Manjit Bawa and Thukral and Tagra. “There are also a couple of ‘art baskets’, a set of two or four paintings that one can pick up.
For instance, one art basket in the Rs 10 lakh slot is a set of two works by M.F. Husain and Sakti Burman. Then there is a set of four works by Sakti Burman, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Sailoz Mukherjea and F.N. Souza,” she explains.
From works of masters like F.N. Souza, M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza and K.H. Ara to those by artists like Surya Prakash, Vaikuntam, Fawad Tamkanat, Ramesh Gorjala and Jagadish Chinthala, the options are quite large, but it doesn’t stop there. “On display are seven pieces of diamond and gold jewellery,” says Sapna, adding,
“There are blue sapphire earrings ornamented with South Sea pearls, a polki ‘kada’ inspired by the Mughal era and fine meena work inspired by the Red Fort of Delhi, etc.” A preview of the raffle will be held at Kalakriti Art Gallery, on September 28 and 29. The raffle will take place on September 30 at a star hotel.
